Agartala (Tripura) [India], April 23 (HBTV): Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Tuesday stated that the primary objective of the state government is to ensure quality education, and that infrastructure in 123 schools will be developed along with the recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff in the education department, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office.

Dr. Saha made these remarks after inaugurating the new building of Amtali H.S. School. He also virtually inaugurated new buildings of Henry Derozio Academy, Gandhigram H.S. School, Taltala H.S. School, Indranagar High School, and Nandan Nagar H.S. School from the Amtali H.S. School premises.

He informed that vending machines for sanitary napkins have been installed in 455 schools at a cost of over INR 1.31 crore. Additionally, 1.42 lakh girl students across 2,058 schools have received self-defence training under the Rani Laxmibai Self-Defence Training Program.

Emphasising the importance of environmental awareness, Dr. Saha said, ‘Earth is the only planet where people live, and to secure it, we must focus on the preservation of flora and fauna.’

‘We must understand the history of trees. PM Modi has always appealed to the public to protect nature, and we are now beginning to realise its value. If we fail to maintain ecological balance, we will face many challenges. That is why the Ministry of Education has launched a QR code initiative, active from April 22 to 30, allowing people and students to scan and learn about trees. We must incorporate technology into education, as traditional teaching methods are no longer sufficient,’ he said.

Dr. Saha, who also serves as the state’s Education Minister, said the government is prioritising education because development and progress are not possible without it.

‘Thirty-four years after Independence, the National Education Policy 2020 has been implemented, not only in schools but also in colleges, to benefit the younger generation. We have introduced digital education, including smart classes, the Vande Bharat channel, NCERT resources, and Vidya Jyoti School. Our aim is to implement all schemes effectively and provide quality education,’ he added.

For the 2025–26 financial year, the state plans to set up 30 new schools. As part of infrastructure development, 67 secondary and 56 elementary schools will be upgraded, along with steps to fill teaching and non-teaching vacancies.

According to the CMO statement, Deputy Speaker Ramprasad Paul, Special Secretary of the Education Department Raval Hamendra Kumar, Director of Secondary Education N.C. Sharma, and other officials were present at the event.

(ANI)